Switch mechanism



hday' 39 1927- E. H. W. ULLRICH SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Aug. 5. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 111111fi 7 111111111111111 111111 11 11111111111 11 v 1;

11 INVENTOR U Em/VhCMUflr/Ch,

27 W2 WITNESSES: I l l i i 1' M v ATTORNEY May 3,1927. 1,626,650

z E. H. w. ULLRICH swmcn MECHANISM Filed Auz. s. 1921 5, sheets-sheet 2 fi l I W 1 WITNESSES: INVENTOR E/fi/WiWU/k/Gh Z T ATTORNEY May 3 1927. 1,626,650

E. H. 'W. ULLRICH SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Ana. 3. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR W TNESSES: I gag [Fm/7W. WUWr/Zrh W 1 1 2. g@ M Q AFTTORNEY- Patented May 3, 1927.

NITED STATES 1,626,650 PATENT OFFICE.

E. W. ULLBIGH OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNQR TO WESTXNGHOUSE ELEG'iBIC 6.: MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION QF PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH MECHANISM.

My invention relates to switch mechanism and particularly toswitch mechanism of the safety enclosed type.

One object of my invention is to provlde e a switch mechanism wherein the switch and 135 i pensive construction that may be readily as-' sembled.

Another object oi my-invention is to provide a switch mechanism wherein the operlever for the switch is annitary strucs having a portion adapted to co-operate ith the tor interlocking the cover and :turther of my invention is to provide a latch mechanism for the cover that d to receive the hasp oi a lock for l ch in closed position.

7 will be made i JD I u apparent throughout the trimmer description the invention, are attained by means of other objects, th

r i. is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a switch mechanism :25 embodying features of my invention, the

section being taken on the plane of the line Fig. 2 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of: the switch, mechanism shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken the plane of line Il-II of Fig. 1; F35. view, partly in section and L "11 y elevation, of a fragment of a modilied form oi switchcpereting lever;

42 an elevational view of the mechshown in Fig. 3; I

5 elevational View of the switch mechanisms shown inFigs. 1 and 2; j

ii is an. elevational view of a switch 52 mechanism having a modified form of operating handle; a

Fig. 7 is a View, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the switch mecha nism shown. in Fig. 6, the section being taken on the plane of line VII-VII of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of a switch mechanism showing a'further modification;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a molified form of operating lever; and

Fig. 10 is an elevation of a fra ent of a switch box showing. a modifie form of bearing structure for the switch-operating lever.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the apparatus in cludes a box-like housing 11 made of sheet metal and having a cover 12 that is hinged to the side of the box by means of hinges 13. A switch panel 14 is secured to the bottom of the housing and supports a fuse member 15 and a switch member lowhich includes two' sets of contact jaw members 17 and 18 which are of the usual construction employed in knife-type switches. Switch blade members 19 are pivoted to the jaw members 17 to engage the jaw members 18 when in closed position.

The switch-blade members 19 are mechanically connected by means of an insulating bar 21 and are actuated by an o crating bar 22 which consists of a sing e piece of metal in the form. of around bar which is bent into an irre ular shape for the urpose of rovidinga andle portion 23,

caring portlons 24; which are journalled in openings 25 provided in the sides of the housing, and an interlock portion 26 which projects exteriorly of the housing and ex-f tends toward the cover and terminates in a curved or bent end portion 27.

The bar 22I-is secured to the insulating bar 21 by means of an eye-bolt 28 that is yieldably attached to a clip 29 with which the bar 21 is provided. When the switch is in the closed position illustrated in full lines in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the curved end 27 of the interlocking portion 26 is disposed adjacent to the cover,,as shown, and serves to prevent opening movement of the cover by reason of the engagement thereof with the-inwardlyturned end 2Z-of the bar 22.

The cover is provided with a circular openingwcr pprforation 31 with which the end 2'l ofifjthe bar 22 registers when the switch is in theopen position, the position of the bar at such time being indicated by the broken lines in Figs. 1 and 5. The cur vature of the bent end 27 is concentric with the axis of the hinges 13, and, consequently, the door may be opened only when the end curved end 27 27 is moved into registry with the opening 31. It will be seen from the foregoing that the cover is held in closed position by the operating bar so long as the switch is in any position other than full-open position.

Inasmuch as the curved end 27 or" the operating bar lies substantially contiguous to the side of the cover 12, the curved end 27 will project through the opening 31 when the cover 12 is moved a slight distance toward open position. After the cover has been moved slightly toward open position, closing movement of the switch is prevented by reason of the engagement of the side wall of the cover, having the opening 31, with the of the operating bar.

So long as the operating bar and the switch remain in the full-open position, the cover may be moved to the t'ull-open position indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 2, wherein it will be seen that it is not possible to actuate the switch toward closed position. The switch is held open until the cover 12 has been completely closed. At such time, the curved end of the operating bar lies clear of the perforation in the cover.

By reason of the one-piece construction o1" the operating bar and interlock, and by reason of the fact that no additional parts are required on the cover, the device may be manufactured inexpensively and is rugged and positive in its action.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 9, wherein modified forms of operating bars are illus trated, the constructions therein shown in clude an operating bar 2:2 having a curvature concentric with the hinge axis from the point where the bar extends from the housing to the end thereof which is adapted to register with an opening 81 in the cover in a manner similar to the device previously described.

As shown in Fig. 9, the curved portion 27 comprises a piece of bent tubing which ma e fastened to the projecting end of the bar 22 after the bar has been assembled in the housing.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, a modified form of operating bar is shown wherein the bar 22 is provided with an exterior-1y ex tending interlocking portion 32 which, when the switch is in closed position, occupies the position indicated in full lines in Figs. 6 and 7, and which, when the switch i position, occupies the position indi broken lines in the figures. It will that, when the switch is closed, the Ed 32 prevents opening movement of ti and, when the switch is open, the ext 82 lies clear of the hinged edge of the side wall.

lVhile the switch is in open position, the cover may be, therefore, moved to the open position indicated in broken lines in 7. It will be seen, however, that, so long as the cover remains in open position, closing movement of the switch is prevented by reason of the engagement of the extension 32 with the hinged edge of the cover.

Referring to interlock is illustrated wherein the cover is provided with an angularly-disposed slot with which the xtension 32 registers when the switch is in open position. When the switch is in closed position, the extension 32 occupies the position indicated in full lines and prevents opening movement of the cover until the extension 32 is moved to open position wherein itis registered with the slot 83. When the switch is in open position, the cover may be opened and, when the cover is open, closing movement of the switch is prevented by reason of the engagement of the extension with the wall 34 of the cover. It will be apparent that the interlock constructions above described are extremely simple and are inexpensive to manufacture.

In Fig. 10, I have shown a modified form of bearing for the operating bar 22 which facilitates the assembly of the operating bar where the interlocking portions thereof interfere with the assembly of the bar within the bearings. The side wall of the housing is provided with a slot 35 which extends from the other edge thereof to the point at which the bar is pivoted. A plate 36, having a bearing opening 37 through which the bar is inserted before assembly, is riveted or welded to the side of the box after the bar has been inserted in the slot. The plate serves as a bearing for the bar and closes the slot.

While I have illustrated the interlocking mechanism as associated with a knife switch, it is apparent that the mechanism may be eitcctively applied to various forms of switch mechanism, such as brush-type switches, rotary switches or switches having quick-makeand-break attachments, and, in fact, to a. switch of any type having a movable member that may be actuated by an operating lever.

While I have described and illustrated several embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other changes, modifications, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made in the apparatus illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. Switch mechanism comprising a housing, a cover hinged to the housing, a switch and a switch-operating lever having a portion thereof projecting from the housing and extending across the path of movement of the cover when the switch is closed for 'ireventing opening movement of the cover so long as the switch is in closed position, a

portion of said cover being cut away to rel ig. 8, a modified form of provide an opening ceive the projecting lever when the switc tion.

2. Switch mechanism comprising a hous ing, a cover hinged to the housing, a switch and a switch-operating lever having a portion thereof projecting from the housing and extending across the path of movement of the cover when the switch is closed for preventing opening movement of the cover so long as the switch is in closed position, a portion of the said cover being cut away to registering with the projecting portion of said operating lever when the switch is in open position for permitting opening movement of the cover and for preventing closing movement of the switch so long as the cover is in open position.

8. Switch mechanism comprising a housing, a cover hinged to the housing, a switch and a switch-operating lever having a portion thereof projecting from the housing and extending across the path of movement of the cover when the switch is closed for preventing opening movement of the cover so long as the switch is in closed position, a portion of said cover being cut away to provide an "opening registering with the projecting portion of the operating lever when the switch is in open position for permitting rtion o'f the operating is in its full'open posiopening movement of the cover and for preand a switch-operating venting closing movement of the switch so long as the cover is in any other position than full-closed position.

4. Switch mechanism comprising a housing, a cover hinged to the housing, a switch and a switch-operating lever having a bent portion thereof projecting from the housing and extending across the path of movement of the cover when the switch is closed for preventing openin movement of the cover so long as the switc is in closed position, the

"said cover being provided with an opening with which the bent portion registers when the switch is in open position and into which the said portion rojects when the cover is in open posltion, w ereby closing movement of the switch is prevented so long as the cover 15 in open position.

5. Switch mechanism comprising a housing, a cover hinged to the housing, a switch lever having a por-, tion thereof projecting from the hohsing, the said cover being provided with an opening into which the Said portion projects when the switch is in open position and the cover open, whereby closing movement of the switch is prevented so long as the cover is in open position.

In testimony subscribed my name this 1921.

whereof, I have hereunto 14th day of July,

EMIL H. W. ULLRICH. 

